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Vol. 67 No. 9 ✥ March 4, 2026

March 8, 2026 ❖ The Third Sunday in Lent

Lessons: Exodus 17:1-7; John 4:5-42

Sermon: "Drinking Deeply"

Living water sustains us on our journey. Part of experiencing Christ is being willing to stop and listen and then to drink deeply of Christ’s living water to replenish our souls.

Lenten Series: Spiritual Exercise for the Soul – Just as we care for our physical bodies through exercise or our minds through training, so too should we care for our souls through spiritual exercise. During Lent this year, let us push ourselves to reach beyond our own schedules and to-do lists and embrace this season of introspection to discern what God has in store for us as we allow God to renew us in preparation for the celebration of Easter Resurrection. On the altar are symbols of some of the classical disciplines that have guided the Christian faith: Bible study, prayer, worship, meditation, and service.

Anthems:

"Wind Upon the Waters" - Haugen

"Soos 'n Wildsbok" - arr. Bouwer

Worship is live on our homepage and YouTube channel at 11:00 a.m.,

but we love having you with us in the sanctuary!

Lenten Series: Spiritual Exercise for the Soul

Just as we care for our physical bodies through exercise or our minds through training, so too should we care for our souls through spiritual exercise. During Lent this year, let us push ourselves to reach beyond our own schedules and to-do lists and embrace this season of introspection to discern what God has in store for us as we allow God to renew us in preparation for the celebration of Easter Resurrection.

Sunday Worship in Lent

11:00 a.m. Sundays, February 22 – March 29

Ecumenical Lenten Lunches

Wednesday Service at Noon, Followed by Lunch

Palm Sunday - March 29

11:00 a.m. Palm Sunday Worship

12:15 p.m. Covered Dish Luncheon & Easter Egg Hunt

Holy Tuesday - March 31

12:00 p.m. Labyrinth Communion

Holy Wednesday - April 1

12:00 p.m. Ecumenical Lenten Service

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church

Maundy Thursday - April 2

5:30 p.m. Maundy Thursday Supper

6:30 p.m. Maundy Thursday Worship with Tenebrae

Good Friday - April 3

7:00 p.m. Choral Presentation of the Seven Last Words of Christ

at First Baptist Church of Rocky Mount

Easter Sunday - April 5

11:00 a.m. Worship

Please remember the following persons who need our prayers and support:

At Home:

Janice Bobbitt (Chuck Taylor's sister), 4204 Whitehurst Dr, Wilmington 28409

Robyn Edwards Chapman (Jeannette Pittman's cousin), 1481 Richardson Road, Apt. C406, Apex, NC 27523

Bob Davis (Dan Davis' brother), 427 McIver Street, Greenville, SC 29601

Michele Costa Foster, 105 Gloucester Court (03)

Charlotte Gilliam, 3794 Loblolly Drive (04)

Bill Jones (Dorrie Wright’s brother)

C. B. Morris, 1930 Northern Boulevard (04)

Jeannette and Grady Pittman, 313 Englewood Drive (04)

Cornelia Singletary, 15 Weatherstone Drive (04)

Patricia Taylor (Napoleon Taylor's wife), 514 Hammond Street (04)

Betsy Waters, 401 E. Rhode Island Avenue, Room 275, Southern Pines, NC 28387

Our Members at Home:

Ethel Hines, 125 Cobblestone Court (04)

Ester McKnight (Terry Martin's mother), Brookdale Assisted Living, 650 Goldrock Road, Room 106 (04)

David Ozment, 1249 Green Tee Lane (04)

Sheila Whitley, Breckenridge, 2500 Hunter Hill Road, Room 156 (04)

We extend our Christian sympathy to Linda and Dan Davis and their family in the death of Linda's aunt, Pat Judge, on February 27. A service celebrating her life will be held at First Presbyterian Church on Friday, March 6, at 12:00 noon. A visitation will be held at Wheeler and Woodlief on Thursday, March 5, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m..

We are grateful for your generous support of Lakeside! Below you will see our new budget reporting format, which now shows receipts to date and balance needed to complete the funding of our Provisional Revised 2026 Ministry Plan, approved by the congregation on February 15.

Give Now

YOUTH NEWS

We are looking forward to a great sale on Saturday! Youth and adult volunteers, please plan to arrive in Robbins Hall at 7:15 a.m. Many thanks to everyone who is donating items and volunteering your time to make this important fundraiser possible. We will have a regular schedule of activities on Sunday evening starting at 5:00 p.m. The online registration forms for youth and adult volunteers are now available on the church website. We need your help June 8-12 to help make this year's VBS a great experience for our children. Elizabeth

MUSIC NOTES

Lakeside Ringers will be playing in worship this Sunday, March 8th. Ringers, Zack will be going over call times and logistics in rehearsal on Wednesday evening. Chancel Choir members, we have five rehearsals left on the Seven Last Words, not counting our dress rehearsal with the mass choir. We are making great progress, so please make every effort to be in attendance these last few weeks of rehearsal so that we can continue that progress together!

Jake

TOPNOTCHER NEWS

Dove Notes will meet this Thursday, March 5, at 11:00 a.m.. If you enjoy writing notes and would like to join us, we would love to have you.

Thanks to all who Continued the Communion at Papa Cibo's on Sunday. We had great food and fellowship. Easter falls on our next Continue the Communion date so we will skip April. We are also in the process of lining up restaurants. If you have a suggestion for a location, we'd love to hear!

We are finalizing plans for a spring outing in April/May. Look for it in the next Link.

Sue

You may sign up for food donations and pick up containers and labels

on Sunday in the Narthex or from the church office.

Please see the donation schedule below for drop-off times

for Casserole Sale and Yard Sale donations.

On the morning of the sale, the doors will open at 8:00 a.m.

to church members and the community.

Some of our most popular casseroles and baked goods sell out quickly.

We have also received some fabulous donations for this year's Yard Sale.

Be sure to arrive early for the best selection.

Sometimes older doors don't shut all the way with the ebb and flow of temperatures. Please make sure as you exit church buildings to ensure the door has shut fully behind you. Thank you for your help in keeping our buildings secure!

COOPERATIVE BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP OF NORT CAROLINA

ANNUAL GATHERING: "FREE TOGETHER"

MARCH 19-20

Lakeside members are invited to the CBFNC annual gathering at Hayes Barton Baptist Church in Raleigh where, alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ, we will celebrate and explore our intentional calling of being “Free Together” over the course of two days. Come experience the joy of connection and belonging as we worship, learn, share stories and celebrate together about how God is at work in our churches and communities across the state.

TAR RIVER CHORUS CONCERT

"Reflections of the Soul"

Saturday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m.,

This year, the Tar River Chorus, including some of our Lakeside singers, will perform John Rutter’s “Requiem,” in honor of the 40^th anniversary of the piece.

PALM SUNDAY CELEBRATION

Join us on March 29 for our Palm Sunday worship and celebration. Our children will lead us in the Procession of Palms, and the Children’s Choir will sing in worship. After worship, we’ll enjoy a fellowship luncheon and Easter Egg Hunt for the kids. We hope everyone can join us for this time of worship and fellowship for the entire Lakeside family!

Palm Sunday Sign-Up

GATHER AROUND THE LONGEST TABLE

On Thursday, April 30, the Harrison Family YMCA is bringing The Longest Table to Rocky Mount! This nationwide movement brings neighbors from across the community together for a free potluck meal and wonderful fellowship. The event is from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Landis Pavilion adjacent to the YMCA.

We are in need of Table Captains to provide food and paper goods for about 8 to 10 people, volunteers to assist with setup and cleanup, and folks to attend. Lakeside is one of the sponsors of this event, so we hope you will come out to meet our neighbors and support this exciting event. Contact the church office or Bria Lewis at the YMCA for more information.